Cutting-machine.



E. E. WINKLEY.

CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG: 1, 1908.

1 1 22,56 1 Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

6 SHBETS-SHEET 1.

9 wwwmaw g THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTO-LITHQ, WASHINGTON. D, C

E. E. WINKLEY CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1. 1908. I 1 1 22,56 1 Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

6 BHEETS-SHEET 2.

dNpw is 2 \mamm: M W 8.70% 21 2W 9W WW W THE NORRIS PETERS 60..FHOTO-LITHQ. WASHING roN. D. C

E. E. WINKLEY. CUTTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1, 1908.

1, 1 22,56 1 Patented Dad. 29, 1914.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

Nnxassxsz THE NORRI PETERS CO. PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. D, C

E. E. WINKLEY. CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1, 1908.

1 1 22,56 1 Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

B SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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M %W, Wm m V m. /71 may a 4cm, amvw THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTO-LIYHQ,WASHINGTON, D, C.

E.E'WINKLBY. CUTTING MAGHINE. APPLICATION FILED AZUG. 1, 1908.

1,1 22,56 1 Patented Dec 29, 1914.

v 6 SHEETS-SHEBT 5. 05 5 YXgT MMWW THE NDPPIS PETERS CO..PHO'ID-LITIIO.I WASHINGION. D C.

,E. E. WINKLEY.

CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLIG iTION FILED AUG. 1, 1908.

Patented D6529, 1914.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

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fl-(E NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTO LITHO.. WASHING ION. D. c.

outrun s'rarns ra'rnn'r amen ERASTUS E. WINKLEY, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

oUTtriNc-a'iiioriinn To all whom it may concern Be it known that I,ERASTUS E. WINKLEY,

citizen of the United States, residing at" ing to be a full, clear, andexact description" of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the" art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

"T he invention relates more particularlyfto a machine for cutting outarticles having an irregularly curved outline, such for instance as shoesoles, from rubber compounds or other plastic material, although variousfeatures of the invention may be embodied in machines for forming otherarticles or performing various operations in which the operating tool iscaused to travel in an irregularly curved path.

Soles for rubber from a sheet of rubber compound which is plastic andeasily stretched or distorted, and

machines designed for cutting such soles have proved unsatisfactory,either for the reason that the material has not been properly heldagainst distortion by the cutter, or for the reason that the holdingmeans has been of such a character as to disfigure or distort the sole.

One object of the present invention is accordingly to provide means forproperly holding the material during the action of the cutter withoutsubjecting the sole to a distorting or disfiguring pressure.

To this end one feature of the invention contemplates the provision in amachine for cutting articles from plastic material of means forprogressively clamping the material at the cutting point as the point ofoperation of the cutter is transferred along the outline of the sole.

In forming articles such as rubber soles,

the surface of which should not be marked or indented by the holdingmeans, the material is clamped by engagement with the material outsideor on line of cut, and another feature of the invention contemplates theprovision of means for thus clamping the material. It is not essentialto this feature of the invention that the clamping pressure should beapplied proressively, and the invention contemplates the provision ofany form of clamping de boots or shoes are cutthe waste side of the.

vices constructed tohold the material during the travel of the cutter byengagement with the Waste material outside'the line of cut.

A further feature of the inventioncontemplates the provision in amachine in, which the cutter travels along the material during thecutting operation of means acting upon the material adjacent to thecutting point to counteract the distorting action of the knife and thusinsure the proper cutting of theniaterial.

In accordance with the features of the in vention above referred to, therelative move-' ment between the material and cutter requisitefor givingthe proper outline to the sole or other article being'cut may beeffected by any mechanism constructed andarranged to cause the travel ofthe cutter to conform to the cutting of the article being prod need! Iprefer, however, to employ a novel form of mechanism for this purpose,which embodies various further features of invention. In accordance Withone of these features of invention, the travel of thecutter is effectedby a feeding device connected with the cutter,and acting by' engagementwith the material adjacent to the cutting point to move the cutter alongthe material. The feeding device in its preferred form consists of awheel arranged to engage thewaste material outside the line of cut, andthis wheel may and preferably does act as the clamping means as well asthe feeding means, and also as the means for counteract- Specificationof Letters IEatent. Pat ted De 29 1914" Application filed. August 1,1908. Serial No. 443,423.

work, is to be caused totravel along the work in a prescribed path. p

i The construction and arrangement of the means for controllingthemovement of the cutter or other tool, so that it will travel in theprescribed path,isznot material to the invention in its broader aspects.preferred form, however, the invention con- In its templates theemployment for this purpose of a mechanism embodying certain furtherfeatures of invention which are not confined in their application to amachine for cutting plastic material, but may be embodied in variousmachines in which the devices for operating upon the work are caused totravel in a path corresponding to the outline of a form or pattern. Inaccordance with one of these features, the path of travel of the toolalong the material is determined by a form or pattern and a gage whichis connected with the tool and is held in engagement with the formduring the relative movement of the tool and material by. means whichacts on the material. In its preferred form the means which acts uponthe material consists of a feed wheel which is so controlled that itacts by engagement with the material to cause the travel of the toolalong the material, and to keep the gage in contact with the form duringsuch travel.

In addition to the features of invention above outlined, the inventionincludes certain further which will be more particularly pointed out inthe claims.

' The various features of the invention will be readily understood froman inspection of the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an endelevation of a machine embodying the various features of the inventionin their preferred form, and designed especially for cutting soles forrubber boots and shoes; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine; Fig.3 is a rear elevation; Fig. 4 is a plan view; Fig. 5 is a detail planview of certain parts of the controlling mechanism; Fig. 6 is a rearelevation of the parts shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a sectional elevationon line 77, Fig. 5, looking toward the left; Fig. 8 is an enlargeddetail plan view showing a part of the form or pattern and the devicesengaging therewith; Fig. 9 is a detail elevation showing the cuttercarrying head; Fig. 10 is a sectional plan view on line ab, Fig. 11; andFig. 11 is a rear sectional elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 9.

In the construction shown, the material to be operated upon consists ofa sheet A of rubber compound, and this material is supported upon a worksupporting plate 1 which is preferably formed of glass, and to which theunder surface of the rubber sheet adheres when the sheet is placed inposition. As shown, the work supporting table 1 is pivotally supportedat 2, and is held in position by a spring The work supporting table isconnected by means of a rod 4 with a treadle by which the table may bedepressed for the purpose of removing the work. or placing a fresh sheetof material upon the table.

features and combinations- The work is supported by the work sup port 1in position to be acted upon by a cutter 5 and feed wheel 6 mounted upona head which is supported for free bodily movement over the work. Inorder that the head may be free to move in any direction over the work,it is carried in the outer end of a frame 7, the other end of which ispivotally supported upon a vertical shaft 8 mounted in the end of asecond frame 9, which is in turn pivotally supported upon a verticalshaft 10 mounted in fixed hearings on the frame of the machine. The feedwheel 6 is mounted in a supporting frame 11 secured to the lower end ofa shaft 12 which is mounted in the outer end of the frame 7. This wheelis rotated during the operation of the machine through a sleeve 13 whichsurrounds the shaft 12, and is pro vided at its lower end with a worm 13engaging a worm wheel let which is connected through gearing 15 with thefeed wheel. The work carrying sleeve 13 is driven from theshaft 10through sprocket chains 16 and 17. The chain 17 passes over a sprocketwheel 18 secured to the sleeve 13, and over a sprocket wheel 19 which ismounted on the shaft 8 and is connected with a second sprocket wheel 20about which the sprocket chain 16 passes. The chain 16 also passes abouta sprocket wheel 21 which is connected with a gear 22 mounted on theshaft 10, and driven from the driving shaft 23 through the gear 24. Thefeed wheel is arranged with its axis intersecting the axis of the shaft12, and is preferably arranged with the side which is toward the cuttersubstantially in the axis of the shaft 12, although such arrangement isnot essential.

The cutter 5 is in the form of a knife blade arranged at an inclinationto the work support 1, so that the edge of the sole is cut on a bevel,as is usual in cutting rubber soles. The knife is preferably arranged sothat it enters the work in line with the point of engagement of the feedwheel with the work, and so that its point of operation practicallycoincides with the axis of the shaft 12. The cutter is secured in an arm25 which is pivotally connected at 26 with a cutter carrier 27, and isheld normally in position against a lug 28 on the carrier by a. pivotedlatch 29. During the cutting operation, the cutter carrying arm 25 islocked in fixed position upon the carrier by the latch 29. WVhen thework is to be inserted, the latch 29 is swung to one side so that thecutter may be raised, and after the work is positioned between the feedwheel and work support, the arm 25 is swung down to insert the cutter inthe work, and is locked in position by the latch 29. In order that thecutter may have a limited vertical movement so that its point willtravel in engagement with the work support at all times bymeans of aspring 33, one end of which is connected to a pin 34 on the hub, and

the other end of which is connected with a pin 35 on the frame whichcarries the feed wheel. Tn'order'that the knife may be maintained inproper relation to the line of travel, as its point of operation istransferred along the work, the cutter carrier 27 is connected with theframe 11 by means of a pin 36 which projects from the frame 11 into avertical slot 37 formed in the cutter carrier. By means of thisconnection, the cutter is swung about the axis of the shaft 12 to keepthe cutter tangent to the line of cut as the shaft is turned to vary thedirec tion of action of the feed wheel upon the work in the mannerhereinafter described.

The work is forced against the under surface of the feed wheel 6 by thespring 3 which forces the work support 1 upward, and the rotation of thefeed wheel while in engagement with the work tends to move the headwhich carries the feed wheel and cutter with relation to the work in adirection depending upon the angular position of the feed wheel. Theaction of the feed wheel against thematerial being operated upon tendsto force the material in a direction opposite to the travel of the feedwheel and knife, and therefore tends to move the material in a directionopposite to that in which the material is forced by the action of theknife. Since the wheel acts upon the material adjacent to the cuttingpoint, the tendency of the knife to distort the material iscounteracted, and the material is effectively held against distortion asthe cutter is drawn through the material. feed wheel is arranged toengage the material outside of the point of operation of the knife, andthe material entering into the sole is not therefore subjected to anyclamping pressure-tending to disfigure or distort it. Since the feedwheel is arranged to en age the work adjacent to the point of operationof the cutter, it acts as it travels over the work to progressivelyclamp the material as that point is transferred along the outline of thesole. a

The path of travel of the feed wheel and cutter is determined by a formor pattern 38 which corresponds in shape and size to the sole to be cut.This form is secured upon the under side of afisupporting bar 39, andmaybe changed in accordance with The 1 the size and style-of sole toi becut. The form is arranged above the work support and the shaft 12 of thehead'which carries the cutter and feed wheel is provided with a gagefinger 40 adapted to travel about the periphery of the form; The bearingsurface of the gage is arranged in the'axis' ofthe shaft 12, so thatthepoint of en-, gagement of the gage with the form 'cor-' responds to thepointfof operation ofthe cutter-upon the material being cut.

In order that the movement imparted to the cutter'carrying'head by thefeed; wheel acting against the material being operated upon maycorrespond to the outline of the form 38, the angular relation of thefeed wheel should be varied as the point of operation is transferredalong the outline of the sole to cause the lineof action of the feedwheel, or the direction of the feed, to, correspond to the'outline ofthe form; Inv

order that the angular relation of the feed I wheel may be thus varied,mechanism is provided for ,controllingthe angular rela tion of the feedwheel by the curvature of the form 38.1 As shown, this means includes afeeler 41 in the form of a finger pivoted at 12 to the upper end of theshaft 12, and arranged to engage the periphery of the form 38 inadvance'of the point of engagement of tlie'gagefinger 40 with the form,and therefore in advance of the point of operation of the knife upon thesole being cut. The position of thiscfeeler finger with relation to thegage finger will depend upon'the curvature of the form in advance of thepoint of oploo eration, and mechanism' is provided, the.

action of which is controlled by the position of the finger for varyingthe line of action of the feed wheel in accordance with the position ofthe'feeler finger, so that the line of action or direction of the feedwill correspond to-the outline of the form. The line of action of thefeed wheel or the direction of the feed is varied by rotating the shaft12 in one direction or the other, according to the curvature of the format theipoint corresponding to the point of operation of theknife.Movements are imparted to the shaft 12 to vary the direction of the feedthrough a sprocket chain 43 which passes about a sprocket wheel 44:secured to the shaft 12, and about a sprocket wheel'l-5 mounted to turnfreely on the shaft 8. The sprocket wheel 45 is connected with asprocket wheel 46engaged by a sprocket chain 47 which also passes abouta sprocket wheel 48 mounted, to turn freely on the shaft 10. Thesprocket wheels are of uniform diameter, and these wheels and chainsformconnecting devices which hold the shaft 12 and connected head in thesame; angular relation as the head is moved in the ,planeof operation,so that the movements imparted to the head by the feeding device have noeffect upon the angular relation of the head. The sprocket wheel 48 isconnected with a gear 49 which is engaged and operated by a gear 50secured to a hollow shaft 51. The hub of the gear'50 is provided with aradially extending arm 52 which carries-a pawl 53 through which the gear50 is operated to vary the angular relation of the shaft 12 and feedingwheel and cutter. The pawl 53 is arranged to be intermittently engagedvwith the teeth of a ratchet wheel 51-, the movementsof which arecontrolled by the engagement of the feeler finger 1-1 with the form 38.The en gagement of the pawl 53 with the ratchet wheel 5 1-. iscontrolled through a lever 55, one end of which engages a rod 56 mountedwithin the hollow shaft 51, and the other end of which engages aprojection 57 on the pawl. The lower end of the rod 56 is engaged by oneend of a lever 58, the other end of which carries a roll engaging a cam59 secured'to the driving shaft 23. When the pawl 53 is out ofengagement with the ratchet wheel 5 1, the gear 50 is clamped inposition so as to prevent change in the angular relation of the shaft 12and head carried thereby under the action of the feeding wheel infeeding the head. The means for thus maintaining the angular position ofthe feeding wheel when the controlling mechanism is out of actioncomprises a clamp (50 secured to the upper end of a rod 61, the lowerend of which is connected to one arm of a bell crank lever 62. The otherarm of the bell crank lever is connected by a link 63 with one arm of abell crank lever 6-1,

' the other arm of which carries a roll arranged to engage a cam 65secured to the shaft 23. A spring 66 surrounding the link 63 tends toforce the clamp 60 against the gear 50, and the clamp is disengaged fromthe gear by the cam 65. p

The mechanism for'operating the ratchet wheel 54-. through whichmovements are imparted to the shaft 12 comprises a pinion 67 secured tothe gear 5 1 and engaged by a segment 68 formed on the rear end of alever 69. The front end of the lever carries a roll 70 arranged to beengaged and operated by oppositely inclined actuating surfaces 71 formedon the front end of an actuating slide 72. The actuator slide 72 isoperated through a lever 73, one end of which is connected by a link 7%with the slide, and the other end of which carries a roll 75 held inengagement with a cam 76 on the shaft 23 by a spring 77. When theactuator slide 72 is advanced, the actuating pawl 53 is in engagementwith the ratchet wheel 541, and the ratchet wheel will be operated toturn the shaft 12 in one direction or the other according to theposition of the roll 7 0 with relation to the actuating surfaces 71, theshaft 12 being turned in one direction if the roll is in position tobeengaged by one of the actuatingsurfaces 71, and being moved in theopposite direction if the roll is in positionto be engaged by the otheractuating surface. If the roll 70 is in register with the recess 7 8between the actuating surfaces 71, thenno movement will be imparted tothe lever 69 and connected ratchet wheel and pawl,- and no change in theangular position ofthe shaft 12 will be effected by the advance movementof the actuator slide.

Theposition of the roll 70 when the actuator slide advances iscontrolled by the fee'ler finger .1 through the following mechanism. Thefinger 41 is provided with a horizontally extended arm'79 which engagesa circular flange 80 formed on a sleeeve 81 which is mounted on the headshaft 12 and is supported by a light spring 82. The under side of theflange 80 engages the front end of a lever 83, therear end of whichengages the under surface of a flange 8% formed on a sleeve 85 which ismounted to slide freely upon the upper end of the shaft 8. Theflange 84underlies the front end of a lever 80, the rear end of which engages theupper surface of a flange 87 formed on a sleeve 88 which is mounted toslide freely on the upper end of the shaft 10, and is supported by alight spring 89. Through these connections the vertical position of thesleeve 88 is controlled by the engagement of the feelerfinger 41 withthe periphery of the'form 38. The position of the sleeve 88 determinesthe position of the roll 70 when the actuator slide 72 is advanced. Thedevices through which this control is effected comprise a roll 90carried by the sleeve 88; and mounted to be engaged by two oppositelyinclined actuating surfaces 91 formed on the front end of an actuatorslide 92. The actuator slide is mounted in a lever pivoted at 93, andprovided with a vertically extending arm 9%. The arm 91 carries a roll95 which engages an annular groove formed in a sleeve 96 which ismounted to slide on a fixed rod 97. The sleeve 96 is connected by a link98 with the lever 69 which carries the roll 70. The actuator slide 92 isreciprocated at proper intervals through a bell crank lever 99, one endof which is connected by means of a link 100 with the slide 92, and theother end of which. is provided with a roll 101 engaging a cam 102secured'to the shaft 23. The sleeve 88 which carries the controllingroll 90 is clamped in position during the advance of the actuator slide92 by a clamping lever 103 arranged to engage a rib 104 formed on thesleeve. The clamping lever is actuated to clamp the sleeve by a spring105, and is operated to release the sleeve through a lever 106 which isoperated by a cam 107 secured to the shaft 23.

1f the roll 90 is in position to be engaged by either of the actuatingsurfaces 91 when the actuator slide 92 is advanced, the lever carryingthe slide will be rocked in one di rection or the other, according tothe posi tion of the roll 90, and the rocking of the lever will shiftthe roll 70 into position corresponding to the position of the roll 90.

The cams for operating the dififerent parts are so timed that the pawl53 is out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 54 during the locating ofthe roll 70, and is engaged with the ratchet wheel immediately after theroll is located, and before the actuator slide 72 is advanced.

The cam shaft 23 is rotated at a comparatively high rate of speed, andthe action of determine the required change in the direction of thefeed, and the controlling mechanism acts to effect this change as thepoint of operation is advanced to the point corresponding to theposition of the feeler finger, so that the direction of feed isaccurately controlled in accordance with the curvature of thecontrolling form. The

controlling mechanism is operatedduring 'each rotation of the shaft 23,and the cycle of-operations performed during each rotation of this shaftis as follows. Assuming that the sleeve 88 has been positioned by theengagement of the, feeler finger 41 with the form 38, andthe clamp 103has been operated to clamp the sleeve in position. the actuator slide 93is advanced, and the lever on which the slide is mounted is rockedduring this advance in accordance with the position of the roll 90 onthe sleeve 88, and by this movement positions the roll on the lever 69.lVhile the sleeve 88 is still clamped, and the actuator slide 92 isadvanced. the clamp 60 is operated to release the gear 50, and the pawl53 is engaged with the ratchet wheel 54. The. actuator slide 92 is thenretracted,and the controller sleeve 88 unclamped, so that it may beagain positioned by the feeler finger 41. As the actuator slide 92 isretracted, or immediately thereafter,the actuator slide 72 is advanced,and by the engagement of the actuator surfaces 71 with the roll 70,swings the lever 69 into position where the roll 70 enters the recess 78 betweenfthe actuator surfaces, and thus turns the ratchet wheel 54 inone direction or the other to change the angular position of the headcarrying shaft, 12 in accordance with the curvature of the form 38. Whenthe actuator slide 72 has completed its advance movement, the

pawl 53 is disengaged from the ratchet 54, and the clamp 60 is engagedwiththe gear 50, and then the slide is returned to its rear- Wardposition. The clamp 103 is then operated to again clamp the sleeve 88 inthe new position which has been determined by the engagement of thefeeler finger 41 with the form 38, and theflcycle-of operations isrepeated. Thus the line of action of the feedingv wheel is controlledand varied so that the gage A0 on the head which carries the feed Wheeland cutter travels about the form 38, and during this travel the head isturnedto keep the direction offeed in line with the periphery of theform at the point corresponding to the point of operation, and to varythe position of the knife so that it is tangent to'thecurve of the soleat the point of operationjthroughout the cutting operation.

Havingexplained the nature and object of the invention, what I claim isLA cutting machine, having, in combination, a cutter, means for causinga travel of the cutter corresponding to the outline of the article to becut, and means for progressively. clamping the material adjacent tothecutting point, as said point is transferred-along the material,substantially as described. I 1 A cutting machine, having, in combiof:the cutter corresponding to the outline of the article to be cut, andmeans for progressively clamping the material by engagenation, a cutter,means for causing a travel ment therewith outside the cutting point andarranged to engage the rubber substantially at the cutting point andprevent distortion by the cutter, substantially as described. y

4:. A machine for cutting sheet rubber,

having, in combination, a cutter, means for causing a travel of thecutter corresponding to the outline of the article to be cut, and aclamping wheel traveling with the cutter and arranged to engage thematerial substantially atthe cut-ting point and outside of the'line ofcut to prevent distortion by the cutter, substantially as described.

5. A machine for cutting sheet material,

having, in combination,a work support, a traveling knife blade, andmeans act ng upon the material on the support to draw the knife bladethrough the material, substantially as described.

'.6. A cutting machine, having, in combination, a traveling knife, andmeans acting upon" the material adjacent to-the cutting nation, atraveling cutter, andmeans acting 6-5 asdescribed:

as described.

on thematerial substantially at the cutting point in opposition to thecutter todraw the cutter through. the material, substantially asdescribed;

8. A machinefor cutting sheet material, having, in combination, a worksupport, a cutter, a feeding device connected with the cutter andengaging the material on the work support, and means for actuating thefeeding device to feed the cutter bodily along the material on thesupport, substantially as described.

9. A cutting machine, having, in combination, a cutter carriage, acutter mounted in the carriage, a feeding wheel mounted in thecarriage'actingflby engagementwith the materialto be cut to draw thecutter through the material, and means for turning the Wheel in thecarriage to-varythe direction of travel, substantially as' described.

' 10. A machine, having,- in combination, a work support, a carriagemounted to move freely in any direction over-thework support, a toolmounted inthe carriage, feeding means acting by engagement Withthemate'- rial" on the support to cause a travel of the carriage over thematerial, and" means for automatically controlling the feeding means todetermine-the path of travel, substantially 11'. A machineghaving,incombination, a carriage mounted'to move freely in any direction in theoperating plane, a tool mounted in the carriage, a feed Wheel forcausing the travelof the-carriage along the work, and controllingmechanism for turning the wheel to determine the path. of travel,substantiallyas described;

19;.- A machine,having,-in'combination, a tool, a feeding wheel acting'tocause a travel of the tool along the- Work, a form, and means forvarying the line of action-ofthe feeding wheel in accordance withthecurvature ofthe form, substantially as described.

13. A; machine, having, in combination, a tool carrying head mounted formovement in"'aplane parallel with the plane of' the material being:operated on, feeding means mounted" in the head, aform, and meanscontrolled by the curvature of the form to turn the feeding means inconformity with said curvature, substantially" as described.

14:. A machine, having, in combination, a form, a tool, feeding meansfor effectinga movement of. the tool in the direction of the peripheryof" the form, and mechanism controlled by the periphery' of" the, formfor swinging theyf'eeding means in accordance with the outline of theform, substantially periphery of the form, and mechanism controlled by"the periphery of the form for swin in the tool and feedin means inaccordance with the outline of the form, substantially as described.

16. A machine, having, in combination, a tool, a form, feeding means formoving the tool to transfer the point of operation along the work, andmechanism controlled by the periphery of the form acting to turn thefeeding means and tool about the point of operation of the tool to causethe travel of the tool to correspond with the outline of the form,substantially as described.

17 A machine, having, in combination, a form, a tool, feeding meansacting to cause a travel of the tool, a feeler engaging the form, andmechanism controlled by the feeler for varying the angular position ofthe feeding means in accordance with the curvature of the form,substantially as de scribed.

18. A machine, having, in combination, a form, a tool carrying head, agage on the head engaging the form, feeding means acting' tocause atravel of the head, a feeler arranged to engage the form inadvance ofthe gage, and mechanism controlled by the feeler for varying the line ofaction of the feeding means in accordance with the curvature of theform, substantially as described.

19. A machine, having, in combination, a tool carrying head, a feedwheelmounted in the head and acting to cause a travel of the head, a form, agage connected to travelwith the head and engaging the form,and'meansfor controlling the angular position of the feed Wheel by thecurvature of the form,substantially as described.

20. A machine, having, in combination,.a tool carrying head, a feedwheel mounted in the headand' acting to cause a travel of the head, aform, a gage traveling with the head and engaging the form, a feelerarranged'to engage the-periphery of the form in advance of the gage, andmechanism controlled by thefeeler for varying the angular position ofthefeed wheel in'accordance with the curvature of the form, substantiallyas described.

p 21; A machine for operating on sheet material, having, in combination,a tool, a form, a. gage connected with the tool and bearing against theform, and means acting on the material to keep the gage in contactwiththe form during the relative movement of thetool-and-material,substantially as described. r v

g 22, A machine; for cutting sheet rubber, having, in combination, acutting knife, and a,feed*whcelbearing upon the rubber outside iifthe"line o'fut and adjacent the cutting point, said wheel acting to causethe knife to travel through the rubber and to prevent the distortion ofthe rubber by the cutting knife, substantially as described.

23. A cutting machine, having, in combination, a cutter, and meansacting upon the material to cause a travel of the cutter correspondingto the outline of the article to be cut, and for progressively clampingthe material by engagement therewith adjacent to the cutting point,substantially as described.

24. A cutting machine, having, in com bination, a cutter, and a feedWheel bearing upon the material adjacent to the cutting point and actingto draw the cutter bodily through the material, substantially as de 26.A machine, having, in combination, a

traveling tool carrying head, a iorm, a gage on the head engaging theform, a feeler arranged to engage the form in advance of the gage, andmechanism controlled by the feeler for varying the position of the toolin accordance with the variations in the position of the feeler as thegage travels around the form, substantially as described.

27. A machine, having, in combination, a tool, a form, a gage connectedwith the tool and bearing against the form, a feeleren gaging the formin advance of the gage,'and

mechanism controlled by the feeler for caus ing the gage to travel alongthe form, substantially as'described.

28. A machine, having, in combination, a

stationary form, a traveling gage, feeding. means acting to transfer thegage along the form, a feeler, and mechanism controlled by I Copies ofthis patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing theCommissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C." I

